Last Report: 09/27/2020
Source: https://dl.ncsbe.gov/?prefix=ENRS/2020_11_03/

Returned and Accepted Mail Ballots

Ballots Returned: 246,615
Return Rate: 23.1%

Mail Ballots Returned and Accepted by Party Registration

Party Returned Ballots Freq. Distribution Requested Ballots Return Rate
Democrats 133,002 53.9 521,580 25.5
Republicans 40,241 16.3 193,768 20.8
Minor 697 0.3 4,787 14.6
No Party Affiliation 72,675 29.5 349,178 20.8
TOTAL 246,615 100.0 1,069,313 23.1
All
Dem
Rep
NPA
Minor

Mail Ballots Returned and Accepted by 2016 Vote History

Note: North Carolina provides only aggregate request statistics, so it is impossible to generate ballot return rates by 2016 general vote.
Voted Count Percent
Voted in 2016 General 189,229 76.7
Did Not Vote in 2016 General 57,386 23.3
TOTAL 246,615 100.0

Mail Ballots Returned and Accepted by Race and Ethnicity

Race/Ethnicity Returned Ballots Freq. Distribution Requested Ballots Return Rate
Non-Hispanic White 178,972 72.6 717,566 24.9
Non-Hispanic Black 39,489 16.0 190,453 20.7
Hispanic 4,244 1.7 25,196 16.8
Non-Hispanic Asian American 4,288 1.7 26,134 16.4
Non-Hispanic Native American 787 0.3 4,536 17.4
Other/Multiple/Unknown 18,834 7.6 105,428 17.9
TOTAL 246,615 100.0 1,069,313 23.1

Mail Ballots Returned and Accepted by Age

Age Returned Ballots Freq. Distribution Requested Ballots Return Rate
18 to 25 10,122 4.1 85,769 11.8
26 to 40 26,422 10.7 181,950 14.5
41 to 65 81,403 33.0 393,698 20.7
66 and up 121,923 49.4 407,896 29.9
TOTAL 246,615 100.0 1,069,313 23.1

Mail Ballots Returned and Accepted by Gender

Gender Returned Ballots Freq. Distribution Requested Ballots Return Rate
Female 130,507 52.9 581,478 22.4
Male 104,605 42.4 419,369 24.9
Unknown 11,503 4.7 68,466 16.8
TOTAL 246,615 100.0 1,069,313 23.1

Rejected

Ballots Rejected: 4,381
Rejection Rate: 1.7%

Most of these rejected ballots are for the ballot status reason of “WITNESS INFO INCOMPLETE”.

North Carolina election officials are required by state law to follow up with these voters. If you are a North Carolina voter concerned about your mail ballot, you can track the status of your ballot at the North Carolina State Board of Elections website.

In the “All” mail ballot returned statistics, I add the mail ballots that are returned and accepted with the rejected ballots. Dividing the number of rejected by this quantity yields a rejection rate.

Mail Ballots Rejected by Party Registration

Party Rejected Ballots Freq. Distribution All Returned Ballots Rejection Rate
Democrats 2,742 62.6 135,744 2.0
Republicans 716 16.3 40,957 1.7
Minor 12 0.3 709 1.7
No Party Affiliation 911 20.8 73,586 1.2
TOTAL 4,381 100.0 250,996 1.7
All
Dem
Rep
NPA
Minor

Mail Ballots Rejected by Race and Ethnicity

Race/Ethnicity Rejected Ballots Freq. Distribution All Returned Ballots Rejection Rate
Non-Hispanic White 1,993 45.5 180,965 1.1
Non-Hispanic Black 1,787 40.8 41,276 4.3
Hispanic 134 3.1 4,378 3.1
Non-Hispanic Asian American 106 2.4 4,394 2.4
Non-Hispanic Native American 24 0.5 811 3.0
Other/Multiple/Unknown 337 7.7 19,171 1.8
TOTAL 4,381 100.0 250,996 1.7
Non-Hispanic White
Non-Hispanic Black

Requested

Ballots Requested: 1,069,313
Request Rate: 15%

Mail Ballot Requests by Party Registration

North Carolina registered Democrats have a 327,812 ballot request lead over registered Republicans.

Party Count Percent
Democrats 521,580 48.8
Republicans 193,768 18.1
Minor 4,787 0.4
No Party Affiliation 349,178 32.7
TOTAL 1,069,313 100.0

North Carolina releases an update to the voter registration file each Saturday. The voter registration numbers are from the most recent release and may be slightly dated.

All
Dem
Rep
NPA
Minor

Mail Ballot Requests by Race and Ethnicity

Race Count Percent
Non-Hispanic White 717,566 67.1
Non-Hispanic Black 190,453 17.8
Hispanic 25,196 2.4
Non-Hispanic Asian American 26,134 2.4
Non-Hispanic Native American 4,536 0.4
Other/Multiple/Unknown 105,428 9.9
TOTAL 1,069,313 100.0

Mail Ballot Requests by Age

North Carolina provides mail ballot request data in age ranges inconsistent with other states’ ranges. The age statistics presented here are not included in the national age statistics.

Age Count Percent
18 to 25 85,769 8.0
26 to 40 181,950 17.0
41 to 65 393,698 36.8
66 and up 407,896 38.1
TOTAL 1,069,313 100.0

Mail Ballot Requests by Gender

Gender Count Percent
Female 581,478 54.4
Male 419,369 39.2
Unknown 68,466 6.4
TOTAL 1,069,313 100.0